HB 1188 Summary

• Department of Child Services must adopt rules establishing minimum operating standards for private residential facilities serving children with emotional, behavioral, mental health problems, or substance abuse issues.

• Standards prohibit child abuse, neglect, withholding essential care, physical and mechanical restraints, seclusion, and humiliating or degrading practices.

• Required standards include telephone access for children, staff criminal background checks, medication disclosure to parents, notification of medical changes within 24 hours, and staff training on child abuse recognition and reporting.

• Department authorized to impose civil penalties up to $500,000 per violation and establish inspection procedures and appeal processes.

• Effective July 1, 2012; applies to private programs including wilderness programs, boot camps, therapeutic boarding schools, and behavioral modification programs, but excludes state facilities, licensed hospitals, and foster care homes.